Pelden Lhamoi Domchoe Tour

$1755

Tour Summary

Pelden Lhamo is the dominant female protective deity of Bhutan and this festival is dedicated to her.
The festival was first introduced in Thimphu Dzong in 1710 by Kuenga Gyeltshen, who was recognised as the reincarnation of Jampel Dorji, son of Zhabdrung Nawang Namgyel. According to legend, Pelden Lhamo appeared in KuengaGyeltshen’s dream and showed him some tantric teachings through dances.
In 1988, the festival was introduced in Trongsa Dzong by His Majesty the Fourth King, Jigme Singye Wangchuck, and the 68th JeKhenpo His Holiness Tenzin Dendup. Different dances are performed during the festival, including a Nangcham (secret performance) that is performed exclusively in the shrine with dancers circumambulating the mandala. Other dances are showcased to the public. And this is the only festival which is performed purely by the monks.

Hike to Cheri Monastery.
Afternoon, visit to Takin Park, Centenary Farmers’ Market, Institute of Traditional Arts and Crafts and the majestic Tashichhodzong which houses the office of His Majesty the King.

Leave Punakha for Trongsa.
En route, stop at the re-construction site of Wangduepodrang dzong. In the evening, have a leisure walk in the town.

Accommodation: Yangkhil Resort

Day 5: Trongsa Pelden LhamoiDomchoe

Visit Trongsa Dzong to witness the tshechu. In the afternoon, visit the Ta Dzong (Watch Tower).

Accommodation: Yangkhil Resort

Day 6: Trongsa-Phobjikha

Travel to Phobjikha.
Visit Gangtey Goenpa and have stroll along the Nature Trail at Phojikha valley, the winter habitat to endangered Black-necked Cranes.

Overnight stay in a home-stay

Day 7: Phobjikha-Paro

Travel back to Paro.
En route, visit Semtokha Dzong, the oldest dzong in the country.
Afternoon, visit to the National Museum, Paro Dzong, Kyichu Lhakhang and have orientation walk along the silent street of Paro Town.

Overnight stay at Bhutan Mandala Resort

Day 8: Hike to Taksang Monastery

Hike to Taksang Monastery or the Tiger’s Nest.
In the evening, visit to one of the nearby homestays and have a hot-stone bath.

Overnight stay at Bhutan Mandala Resort

Day 9: Departure

We will see you off at Paro International Airport. We hope that you have had a wonderful and memorable stay in our dragon kingdom.

Day 1: Paro–Thimphu

Fly to Bhutan amid gentle terrains of the Greater Himalayas. For sure, your landing will be little rough but there is nothing much to worry.
At the Airport, you will be greeted by our guide and driver in traditional Bhutanese way, offering silken scarf. Then, you will be driven towards Thimphu.
After a breather in your hotel and brief lunch, you will visit the National Memorial Chorten which was built in honor of the late King Jigme Dorji Wangchuk. Then, we will drive up to Kuenselphodrang Nature Park where the 169 feet bronze statue of Buddha Dordenma, Vajra Throne Buddha, is located. It is one of the largest statues of Buddha in the world. You may also visit Traditional Handmade Paper Factory towards the evening.

You can enjoy the night walking around Thimphu.

Day 2: Thimphu

The capital city of Bhutan is the biggest town in Bhutan. It is a beautiful valley where people from across the country flock in. Today, we will be exploring this city. And we will begin the errand with a hike to Tango Monastery.

Tango Monastery is the only tertiary education center for Buddhist monks. It is also the seat of one of the highly revered Buddhist master known as HH Gyalsey Tenzin Rabgay.
This after, we will visit the majestic Trashichodzong which houses the office of His Majesty The King and other high ranking officials. We will also visit Takin Park to see the national animal of Bhutan, Takin. If time permits, we will visit Institute for Traditional Arts and Crafts and Centenary Farmers’ Market.

Day 3: Thimphu–Punakha

Your trip to Bhutan will be incomplete if you fail to visit Punakha. Thus, we will begin our journey early to Punakha today. It takes two hours from Thimphu to reach our destination. In the olden days, the western districts stood witness to scores of historical transitions of the country, even to the unification of the country, and Punakha has a very special significance.
As we travel, we will stop at Dochula and visit the Druk Wangyel Stupas. There are 108 stupas and these were built to commemorate the victory of the Indian militants in 2003. Her Majesty The Queen Mother, Ashi Dorji Wangmo Wangchuck commissioned the construction of these statues.
We will also be visiting Chimi Lhakhang at Sobsokha and offer our prayers. This temple is famous in the country for blessing with children for childless couples. Thus, it is known as the temple of fertility.
This afternoon, we will visit the Majestic Punakha Dzong, the erstwhile capital centre of Bhutan. Then we will visit the longest suspension bridge which is a few hundred meters away from the dzong. Our next stop will be at Changyul to see the ruins of Galem’s house.

Day 4: Punakha-Trongsa

Today, we will travel towards Trongsa.
En route, we will visit Wangduephodrangdzonf reconstruction site. This dzong was gutted by fire in 2012 but under the Royal Commad, the reconstruction works began immediately. Today, nearly 50 percent of the works has been completed.
From there, we will resume journey. Our highest driving point will be a mountain pass- Pelela at 3140 meters. From there we gradually take a descent to the floor of Bumthang valley often filled by dense fogs.

We will end our journey for the day at a beautiful resort facing the magnificent Trongsa Dzong, the longest in the country, at the floor of the valley. It was the seat of political power and today, every King of Bhutan must first serve as the Governor of Trongsa before being crowned. The religious fortress houses 30 temples and also has four courtyards.

Day 5: Trongsa Pelden LhamoiDomchoe

Pelden Lhamo is the dominant female protective deity of Bhutan and this festival is dedicated to her.
The festival was first introduced in Thimphu Dzong in 1710 by Kuenga Gyeltshen, who iwasrecognised as the reincarnation of Jampel Dorji, son of Zhabdrung Nawang Namgyel. According to legend, Pelden Lhamo appeared in KuengaGyeltshen’s dream and showed him some tantric teachings through dances.
In 1988, the festival was introduced in Trongsa Dzong by His Majesty the Fourth King, Jigme Singye Wangchuck, and the 68th JeKhenpo His Holiness Tenzin Dendup. Different dances are performed during the festival, including a Nangcham (secret performance) that is performed exclusively in the shrine with dancers circumambulating the mandala. Other dances are showcased to the public. And this is the only festival which is performed purely by the monks.Day 6: Trongsa-Phobjikha

Waking up early to depart for the valley of the cranes, the drive from Bumthang to Phobjikha is considered one of the most scenic and peaceful.

The glacial valley of Phobjikha is the winter roosting ground of the seasonal and endangered Black-Necked Cranes. For the safety of the cranes, as it is a precious possession of the valley, the state mandates that no household can have overhead cables, it must be connected through underground provisions. The roosting ground is also fenced and people must stay 100 meters away from the fence.
Phobjikha embraces the iconic GangteyGoenpa- the seat of revered Peling Branch of Vajrayana Buddhism. Another one to experience is the Nature Trail- strolling through the tranquil and clean atmosphere, connecting the body to the soul offering healing benefits to any ailments, be it physical or psychological.

Day 7:Phobjikha-Paro
We journey back to Paro via Wangdue valley. It is known as the valley of “ornamental speech” because of the local people’s innate ability to come up with verses that are elegant, poetic and meaningful. This valley was once governed from WangdueDzong which, unfortunately, was destroyed by fire and is being entirely rebuilt. The journey is also remarkable in that we pass through varying landscapes of immense beauty, adorned with numerous shades and hues of alpine flowers.

Day 8: Paro (Hike to Taktsang

After a quick breakfast equipping everything recommended, we set on the most awaited segment of the tour. The toil of the day before comes to play as you hike to the Tiger's Nest.
Etched precariously on a carve of a granite cliff at 3120 meters, almost 1000 meters above the valley floor, Taktsang is the cultural icon of Bhutan. It is for this particular attraction, tourists flock to Bhutan and pilgrims attempt to visit the monastery at least once in a lifetime, if not more.
A legend spells that the Indian Saint, Guru Padmasambhava, worshipped in the Buddhist world as the Second Buddha flew to this location on the back of a tigress to tame the demon there.

The switch-back trail to Taktsang offers respite through picturesque vistas of nature, the opportunity to see the last horizon, the horizon beyond horizon and narration by the guide on many myth and legends of Bhutan continuing the hike in a pace unbothered by time.

After finishing the trail, the mind and body equally exhausted, you might want to get a trekker's foot massage for a good night's sleep. Another one could be taking a hot stone bath immersed in a wooden tub with local medicinal herbs offering a relaxing sensory journey.

Day 9: Departure

Today you will bid fond farewell to this beautiful Himalayan country and take a quick flight back to your country. We hope by now you would have made some friends and take beautiful memories of Bhutan! And we look forward to seeing you again in this unforgettable land of infinite happiness.